We're Still Here!

We're still here!

My little business - The Crazy Kukla Boutique - has exploded.

It seriously has been beyond anything I could have anticipated.  

It is SO exciting for me!  I cannot believe how receptive people have been.  

I've had more orders in the first three weeks than I thought I would have in a year.

Chris has been a HUGE help.  He's the master cutter and is so willing to help me with anything I need.

I have so many new exciting things in the works too!

People are so crazy about a Little Mama Diaper Bag Set.  Like, Ca-Razy.

I've added some Halloween things like this candy corn dress and trick or treat bag.

I'm so excited about how busy I've been and so thankful that people have loved what I'm making!

This was my favorite Little Mama set yet.

I'm going to do a Halloween version of this skirt for Lady K.

We went to Memphis last weekend and went to the zoo.  It's a fabulous zoo!

K loved the carousel.  I'm pretty sure we all did actually.

She loved the ice cream too. . . And I loved that shirt while it lasted.

The boys' favorite part of the zoo?  The water splash area.  Remember the trip to the aquarium?  I will clearly never learn.

We also met up with Rochelle and her family and had lunch.  Jack and sweet Alayna were in love with each other.  He's still talking about her.  Dariya was the cutest, chattiest, squishiest little thing, and I wanted to put her in my pocket and take her home.  Aidan was so kind and smart, I think that he, David, and Henry would have a lot in common.  They are a lovely family and I was so happy to spend some time with them.

Two little Reece's Rainbow babies together - they were so stinking cute together!  

Next week?  Back to school.  Yes, already.  I have parent meetings, open houses, school supplies, new backpacks, football registrations, and lunchboxes coming out of my ears.  Can you believe ALL of my children will be in school for full days???  

Happy Wednesday!

Hipster

Lady K had her follow up appointment with her hip doctor yesterday.  And he said essentially nothing. They did x-rays, examined her, and said she's perfect.  We don't even need to go back, unless we have another issue.  Whaaaat?  Three months ago we were scheduled for a major surgery and now we don't have to go back again if we never have another issue.  It's the craziest thing I've ever heard of.  He still firmly believes it's the illiotibial band syndrome, but he said no restrictions on what she can do and we'll just deal with it if it happens again.  Excellent news, clearly, but a little frustrating and weird that we're now exactly where we started!  Thankfully she's not had any instances since April, so I'm just hoping that continues.  

Happy Friday!

Three for Thursday

1.  The Crazy Kukla Boutique is busy!  I have had twelve items ordered since Sunday, as well as the two giveaway dresses that I did.  That is crazy to me!  I'm so excited and am loving working on these things.  One of the things I cannot wait to make is a bow tie. . . one of my adoption friends has ordered three bow ties and a coordinating dress, and they're going to be so. cute.

2.  One other order that I've gotten is for outfits for beach photos.  Eek!  We picked some great fabrics, and I think these are going to be awesome!

The floral is the main fabric.  LOVE.

These will be accent fabrics, and I need to find a good khaki or gray for some pants for the boys.  They're going to be so, so cute.

3.  I've filled out Jack's registration form for. . . football.  Like, full on pads football.  How many weeks do you think he'll play before he breaks a bone?

And a bonus.  Today Katie follows up with her hip doctor.  Happy thoughts please!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Today I'm shipping out the first dress from my giveaway at The Crazy Kukla Boutique!  I went live with the Facebook and Etsy sites on Sunday . . . Three days ago.  Since then, the Facebook page has had over 400 likes, and I've gotten orders for eleven items and given away two.  WHAT?!  

This dress is going to my first giveaway winner.  I drew a random winner when the Facebook page reached 250 likes.  I drew a second random winner when it reached 400 likes, which happened yesterday.  

My first winner has a little girl and two boys.   She picked this super cute Star Wars fabric for the main dress fabric on the bottom (seriously?  George Lucas is a marketing genius.).  I did purple and pink polka dots on the outside of the bodice and white fabric with white starts on the inside of the bodice.  I'm in love with it.  I hope her little lady is too!  This Star Wars version will be listed in my Etsy shop today.

Each of the items from my shop will have this hang tag.  It says, "Handmade with Love By:  The Crazy Kukla Boutique".  

The winner of my second giveaway chose a dress for her daughter's birthday.  And she's a blog reader! I was so surprised, and I'm SO excited to make the dress for her.  I cannot believe how great people's reactions to The Crazy Kukla Boutique have been, and I can't wait to show you what else I am working on!

Have a great Wednesday!

The Crazy Kukla Boutique

My Etsy shop is open for business!

I launched my Facebook page first and said that when I reached 250 likes I would give away a Superhero dress.  

I named the winner at about 11:00 last night, which was about an hour after the page hit 250 likes.  I could not believe it! 

The Facebook page is up to 296 likes this morning!  I feel like I should give that Sally Field speech about how "You like me!  You really like me!"

You know that feeling we've all had?  The one when you have a party and invite a bunch of people and then the day of the party you get nervous and think maybe nobody will show up?  Yeah, that's the feeling I had.  After I pushed post and invited people to like the page, I seriously thought for a minute, "Wait!  What if this stuff really sucks and people think it's ridiculous?"  Thankfully that wasn't the case!

Reagan Ruffle Capris and Peasant Top

I went live with the Etsy site last night after I put Katie to bed.

Aloha Doll Beach Set

I had my first Etsy order at 9:10 p.m.  

Fort Kit

Shut the front door.  I was shocked!

Jennifer Mustache Skirt and Embellished Bib Top

I also had an order through the Facebook page.  For three items!

Katie Ruth Peasant Dress

I am so excited!

Mickey Mouse Applique Peasant Dress

Once the Facebook page reaches 400 likes, I'm going to give away another Superhero Dress or a Fort Kit (winner's choice).

Matryoshka Doll Apron Skirt Set

One of my Superhero dresses is also in a Facebook auction to help an adopting family raise funds to bring home their little guy with Down syndrome.  I am so excited that sewing can allow me to help other people adopting children like our sweet Katie.  We were so fortunate to have so many generous people help us with our fundraising, this is one way for me to pay some of that forward and help other families and children like Lady K.  Please visit Operation Ollie Auction and bid on my Superhero dress (or any of the other items!) and help Ollie come home to his sweet family.

Please like The Crazy Kukla Boutique's Facebook page and follow my Etsy shop - I can't wait to give away another dress or a fort kit!  I plan to add new items to the shop this week!

Trip to the Aquarium

We went to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga today.  

I seriously took two photos inside.  It's too hard to take photos when I'm trying to make sure Katie doesn't disappear.  Have you been inside an aquarium lately?  They're dark.

It was $107 for our family to buy tickets or $115 to get a family membership.  Uh, hello no brainer.  Chattanooga isn't far from us at all, and we love it, so I can see us using that membership a lot.  

What was everyone's favorite part?  Well after we got past the freaking gift shop (Hello, please don't make me exit through the gift shop.  It makes me hate you.) we got out to the outside area where they have little "rivers" all throughout.  We paid $115 for them to like the free area the best.

I am completely serious when I say that I would drive an hour and a half for them to play in this water.  They loved it.  And yes, I let them splash around as much as they wanted while they were completely clothed.  They were a little surprised about that at first!

Henry wasn't really digging it.  Why?  Because he wanted to get ice cream after and wouldn't have been able to go into Ben & Jerry's if his clothes were wet.  Dude has priorities.

Lady K didn't give a rip about getting wet.  She was all in.

Jack?  Please.  Soaked within 60 seconds of stepping into the first area.  That may even be generous.  It was probably more like 30 seconds.

Katie absolutely loved it.  It was so much fun for her.

Jack's clothes were completely see through and his superhero underpants were on full display for everyone involved.

David, who cannot stand if his tag is rubbing the wrong way on his neck, had zero qualms about jumping in completely dressed.  I was a little apprehensive about how he would react, but he loved it.

Katie thought it was the best thing she's ever done.  She kept saying, "Kk!" and signing swim.  She is amazing.

She loved to drink the water.  Awesome.

We literally could have stayed in this area all day long.

People may or may not have been walking by us staring.  There were other kids in the water.  Maybe it was because mine were completely dressed?  Whatever.

Jack looks like he's bathing in the river!

And, miracle of all miracles, David and Jack played together!  And didn't hurt each other!  

They even seemed to have fun!  Good thing I caught it on camera or I never would have believed it.

As you can see, while the other kids were playing, Henry turned 25 and looked like he was waiting for a ride.

Once we were done with the water, Chris brought the wet ones to the car and Henry and I got some ice creams at Ben & Jerry's.  Thankfully he hadn't gotten wet in the river, so he was able to come in.  ;)

As we sat in our car and ate our ice cream in the parking lot, two people pulled up on the bikes you can rent in Chattanooga.  They parked them by the spot where you pay to park, and they got off the bikes and started talking.  Then they started kissing.  A lot.  Chris and I were cracking up.  Like, who just stands in the parking lot and makes out?  Then the guy got down on one knee!  I realized he was about to propose, so I got out my phone and started taking pictures.  They had nobody around them and I would want a picture of that if I were them.  So I went all stalker on them and got like six pictures.  Then Chris got out to throw our ice cream trash away and took their picture together and got their phone number so I could send them the other pictures.  It was really cute, and made me feel less creepy about them making out in the parking lot by the ticket booth.  Although I'm not sure that's where I would want to get engaged!  Chris said they told him it was where they had their first date.  {The parking lot?!}  

And on the way home, we had this sweet vision of success - a chocolate mustache, sleepy, naked little boy.  I could eat his face up he's so sweet.  {I feel that way mostly when he's sleeping...}

I hope you had a great weekend!